User's Guide

Tesla Roadster Notes
In general, the OVMS module in a Tesla Roadster acts exactly like the little VDS screen. We
should be able to do anything that screen can do, but no more. Here are some notes:
1. The lock/unlock and valet functions rely on a PIN code. This is the same PIN code you
enter into the vehicle using the VDS screen when activating valet mode. If you don’t
know the PIN code, either try the default 1234 or contact Tesla for assistance.
2. While OVMS can lock/unlock the doors of all Tesla Roadster models, cars outside North
America are fitted with an immobiliser and neither OVMS nor the VDS will disarm/arm
that. The OVMS lock/unlock functionality only applies to the doors, not the alarm in
vehicles sold outside North America.
3. OVMS v3 can calculate an overall battery health metric. This metric is calculated using
our own algorithm and is in no way approved by Tesla. Battery health is dependent on
many factors, and hard to bring down to just one simple number.
4. The Tesla Roadster requires the ignition key to be on, and manual switches turned, to
cool/heat the cabin. It is not technically possible to do this remotely via OVMS.
5. The digital speedometer function replaces the AMPS display in the dashboard
instrument cluster with the vehicle speed. This is an experimental feature, and works
99% of the time, but sometimes the car ‘wins’ and displays AMPS for a split second. A
better solution is to use the HUD functionality of OVMS v3 and install an external Heads
Up Display in the car.
Thanks
There are so many people to thank for Tesla Roadster support in OVMS. W.Petefish for
sourcing the car connector, Fuzzylogic for the original hardware and software design and
demonstration of it working, Scott451 for figuring out many of the Roadster CAN bus messages,
Tom Saxton for v1.5 Roadster testing, Michael Thwaite for pictures of antenna installation,
Bennett Leeds for wordsmithing the manual, Mark Webb-Johnson for CAN bus hacking and
writing the vehicle module support, Sonny Chen for beta testing and tuning, and many others for
showing that this kind of thing can work in the real world.
OVMS v3 User Guide Page 69 / 86